In August 2010 three Maidenhead United fans were banned from attending home games, by a kangaroo court, for crimes they didn't commit.These men promptly encountered a jobsworth security blockade, and so escaped to the non-league underground.Today, still stigmatised by the MUFC Ltd hierarchy, they survive as supporters of fancy.If you enjoy a train away day - and if you can find them - then maybe you can share a drink with ... the K-team!

Wednesday, 7 March 2012

Credit where it's due (even for Red Nev!)

Not unlike, I suspect, the majority of football fans up and down the country, I don't (or didn't?) much like Gary Neville. The charge sheet reads as follows:

His infamous attempt to organise an England team strike (I would have more respect for him on this issue, upon further reading, if he'd stuck to his guns)

The impression, always given, that he was David Beckham's lapdog

He played for Manchester United

I do think, however, that his co-commentary for Sky during last night's Arsenal v AC Milan game was refreshingly enthusiastic, largely cliché-free, insightful and entertaining (especially in comparison to the expert analysis dross often served up by the likes of Andy Townsend and Chris 'Pelanty' Waddle).

I particularly liked his "it's bingo time down Milan's left flank!"line from last night, after it had become obvious that Djamel Mesbah was out-of-his-depth (Neville had earlier expressed his doubts, on the basis that the Algerian had cost next-to-nothing, as a 27 year-old).

The fact that Neville repeatedly struggled to pronounce Zlatan Ibrahimovic's surname correctly - and has (apparently) never heard of Guinea-Bissau - are very minor gripes; his understanding of the game was, for my money, excellent (to be expected, I suppose, when you've made 400 appearances for one of the most successful managers of all-time and have, at least, half a brain cell). If Neville is ever inclined to take his UEFA coaching badges, then I wouldn't be surprised to see him make a good fist of emulating the achievements of his former Old Trafford boss.